West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team continued its tradition of excellence in the classroom by earning the 2026 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 12th consecutive year. The Hilltoppers posted a 3.60 team GPA during the 2025-26 academic year to earn the national recognition, which honors volleyball programs that maintain a year-long grade-point average of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale.

West Liberty was one of 1,432 collegiate and high school volleyball programs nationwide to receive the 2026 AVCA Team Academic Award. The AVCA recognized teams from across the country that demonstrated excellence in the classroom while balancing the demands of a competitive volleyball season.

Programs that have received the award for 10 or more consecutive years were specially recognized by the AVCA for their sustained commitment to academic excellence. West Liberty's 12-year streak places the Hilltoppers among an elite group of volleyball programs that have consistently excelled in the classroom.

The AVCA Team Academic Award has become one of the organization's premier academic honors, celebrating volleyball programs that prioritize success in the classroom while competing at a high level on the court.